‘It’s been a long haul, a big haul, but we’ve made it’: hepatitis C virus treatment in post-transplant patients with virus recurrence: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

The lived experience of both interferon-based and new interferon-free treatments in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains understudied. To explore their journey through HCV treatment, we interviewed seven post-transplant patients with recurrent HCV. Three themes were identified using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Participants reported an ongoing sense of ontological uncertainty characterized by lack of control over their condition and treatment. Furthermore, an apposition of scepticism and hope accompanying each stage of HCV treatment was described. A staged approach to psychological intervention tailored to the needs of the patient and their associated ‘stage’ of HCV treatment was recommended.